Effect of hot-melt extruded leaves on intestinal microflora and epithelial cells.

Although rutin and isoquercitrin have many effects, they are insoluble substances, making it difficult to obtain pure substances. This study was to investigate whether leaves containing rutin and isoquercitrin could improve intestinal health by making a sustained-release formulation through a hot-melt extrusion (HME) process with improved stability and solubility and determine whether it could upregulate the balance of intestinal microorganisms and intestinal epithelial cells. A sustained-release formulation was prepared by the HME process using leaves and a hydrophilic polymer matrix. Antibacterial activities of pathogenic microorganisms (, , ) and proliferative effect of probiotics (, ) were tested against intestinal microorganisms. Regarding intestinal epithelial cells, a co-culture model of Caco-2 cells and RAW 264.7 cells was used. It was confirmed that the extrudate exhibited high antibacterial activities against pathogenic microorganisms and affected the proliferation of probiotics. Furthermore, after inducing inflammation through LPS, it recovered transepithelial electrical resistance-increased levels of tight junction proteins and decreased expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. HME of leaves containing rutin and isoquercitrin can upregulate intestinal microbial balance and intestinal epithelial cells.